Visbreaker

A visbreaker is a processing unit in an oil refinery whose purpose is to minimize the quantity of residual oil produced in the distillation of crude oil and to increase the yield of more valuable middle distillates (heating oil and diesel) by the refinery. A visbreaker thermally cracks large hydrocarbon molecules in the oil by heating in a furnace to lower its viscosity and to produce small quantities of light hydrocarbons. (LPG and gasoline).[1][2][3] The process name of "visbreaker" refers to the fact that the process lowers (i.e., breaks) the viscosity of the residual oil. The process is non-catalytic.

  1. ^ James H. Gary and Glenn E. Handwerk (1984). Petroleum Refining Technology and Economics (2nd ed.). Marcel Dekker, Inc. ISBN 0-8247-7150-8.
  2. ^ Robert E. Maples (2000). Petroleum Refinery Process Economics (2nd ed.). Pennwell Books. ISBN 0-87814-779-9.
  3. ^ James G. Speight (2006). The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum (4th ed.). CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-9067-2.